Test cricket to stay on Sky

Test cricket will remain on Sky television for the foreseeable future after minister for sport, Hugh Robertson, declined to return it to the list of protected sporting “crown jewels”.

A pre-election independent review had recommended cricket's home Ashes Tests be returned to free-to-air television but Robertson said any decision on changing the list has been deferred until 2013, by which time the switchover to digital television will be complete and another review will take place.

“The broadcast landscape is going to change beyond all recognition after the digital switchover in 2012,” he said. “So I thought it would be utterly pointless to push through one review now and then have another one in two years’ time.“

Much better to wait and see what happens. A number of satellite operators may have introduced free-to-air channels by then.”

The broadcast landscape is going to change beyond all recognition after the digital switchover in 2012, so I thought it would be utterly pointless to push through one review now and then have another one in two years’ time